2010-06-03 11:40

 

Smoke billows from chimneys at a chemical factory in Hefei, Anhui province March 10, 2010.[Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING -- China's efforts to cut its greenhouse gas emission are facing challenges and the situation is not "optimistic," said a senior environment official here Thursday.

The emission of sulfur dioxide has increased by 1.2 percent year on year in the first quarter of this year, said Zhang Lijun, vice minister of environment, at a press conference here.

"This alarmed us that the situation is not optimistic," he said.

The output of energy-consuming industrial products has increased quite fast this year, which is one of the reasons causing the increase, he said.